Hair comb or brush apparatus and hair styling method

ABSTRACT

A set of two hair brushes  31,32  with each comprising a body part  15  adapted to be grasped by a person&#39;s hand, a support portion  16  connected or integral with the body part  15 . Each includes a first set of spaced apart teeth  21  extending substantially parallel from the support portion  16 . The first brush  31  has an outer edge  22  of its first set of spaced apart teeth  21  aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration. The pattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair. The second brush  32  also has a respective outer edge  22  of its respective first set of spaced apart teeth  21  and is aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration. That pattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair. The pattern or configuration of the required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair of being zigzag or sawtooth

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair comb or brush apparatusor set thereof or method for use in styling people's hair in afashionable design. The invention is related to improving handling ofhair by a user or hair stylist but can be used by anyone—even children.It particularly relates to an improved comb but could include animproved brush or other hair implement.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Hair design by hairdressers and other hair stylists involves awide range of methods. One standard form is to apply a part to the hairby combing hairs to either side of a defined line. However generallythat line has always been a straight part extending down the symmetricalcentre of the head or along a parallel line to the symmetrical centre.Another form is across the front of the head in order to define a frontfringe area where the hair in front of the part line is combed down overthe face above the eyes. Clearly from each of these traditional formsthere has developed the traditional straight elongated comb with a rigidlinear spine from which extend parallel and linearly arranged plastic orother synthetic moulded bristles or teeth.

[0003] There have been modifications to the traditional comb but theseare not generally known. In recently published U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,953there is disclosed a hairdressing comb having a series of spaced pairsof hair-lifting teeth with the teeth of each pair defining between thema gap into which hair can enter. Each hair-lifting tooth has ahair-lifting formation and the hair-lifting formations of each pair ofteeth both extend into the corresponding gap. The hair-liftingformations of each pair of teeth are staggered with respect to oneanother in the longitudinal direction of the teeth, and the onehair-lifting formation extends into the gap to a point laterally beyondwhere the other hair lifting formation extend into the gap.

[0004] Also in recently published U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,540 to Stovall etal there is shown a hair styling comb including a moulded plastic ormetal core member with a body part having first and second sets ofintegrally formed spaced apart comb teeth extending in directionssubstantially normal to each other. The first set of teeth extends froman elongated spine part of the body and a layer of a resilient frictionmaterial is moulded over the body part to cover opposed planar surfacesof the body part and to extend within spaces between adjacent teeth ofboth sets. The overmoulded layer provides surfaces between each toothwhich are adherent to human hair comb to facilitate parting, backcombing or ratting hair comb during a styling procedure.

[0005] However the above-disclosed apparatuses do not overcome a generalproblem in the art to which the present invention is directed. There isdeveloping a fashion of having a part in the hair that is not a straightline. It is necessary for a hairdresser to design this part with the useof the traditional linear comb. This makes the creation of the design atedious and laborious activity. Therefore to have your hair in thisdesign is also quite expensive. Due to the difficulty of creation of thedesign, it is generally not readily achievable by the person wishing tohave the hair design or by their friend or assistant.

[0006] There was a desire and need by the applicants to develop a combor brush, which may be easily used during combing to formnon-rectilinear parting operations without slipping from the user'shands. Providing a comb or brush, which may be easily and firmly grippedis particularly required.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to attempt to overcome or atleast ameliorate the shortcomings of the prior art hair comb or brushesused for styling or parting combs and to provide a new article that candramatically assist with parting of hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a haircomb or brush comprising a substantially rigid member having, a bodypart adapted to be grasped by a person's hand, an elongated spineportion integral with the body part, and a first set of spaced apartteeth extending substantially parallel from the spine portion; and atleast one line of substantially parallel teeth are aligned in apredetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration at the edge ofthe first set of spaced apart teeth wherein that pattern orconfiguration corresponds with a required non-rectilinear pattern orconfiguration of a required part in the hair such that in use the atleast one line of aligned teeth are placed where the part is requiredand combed or brushed away from that line to leave the required part.

[0009] Also in accordance with the invention there is provided a set ofat least two hair combs or brushes with each comprising a body partadapted to be grasped by a person's hand, a support portion connected orintegral with the body part, and a first set of spaced apart teethextending substantially parallel from the support portion; and the firstcomb or brush having an outer edge of its first set of spaced apartteeth aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern orconfiguration wherein that pattern or configuration corresponds with atleast part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of apart in the hair and the second comb or brush having an outer edge ofits respective first set of spaced apart teeth aligned in apredetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration wherein thatpattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a requirednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair andwherein each of the set of hair combs or brushes are shaped to havetheir respective pattern or configuration corresponding to each othersuch that in use the respective at least one line of aligned teeth ofeach of the set or combs or brushes can be placed adjacently where thepart is required and at least one of the set of two hair combs orbrushes combed or brushed in opposing directions away from the other toform the required part.

[0010] The invention also provides a method of preparing a non-linearpart of the hair of a person including the steps of:

[0011] providing a set of at least two hair combs or brushes with eachcomprising a body part adapted to be grasped by a person's hand, asupport portion connected or integral with the body part, and a firstset of spaced apart teeth extending substantially parallel from thesupport portion; and an outer edge of its first set of spaced apartteeth aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern orconfiguration

[0012] placing a first of the hair combs or brushes with itsnon-rectilinear outer edge of spaced apart teeth at the requiredposition wherein that pattern or configuration corresponds with at leastpart of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part inthe hair

[0013] placing a second of the hair combs or brushes substantiallyadjacent with its non-rectilinear outer edge of spaced apart teeth atthe required position wherein that pattern or configuration correspondswith at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern orconfiguration of a part in the hair

[0014] and moving at least one from the set of two hair combs or brushescombed or brushed in direction away from the other to form the requiredpart.

[0015] Each of the set of two hair combs can have their respective outeredge of the first set of spaced apart teeth spaced relative to eachother so that when the set of two hair combs or brushes are placedadjacently or in partially overlapping formation, the teeth areinterleaved so as to jointly form a single line of spaced apart teeththat corresponds with the pattern or configuration of the requirednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair.

[0016] Those skilled in the art will further appreciate theabove-mentioned features and advantages of the invention together withother important aspects thereof upon reading the detailed description,which follows in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order that the invention may be more readily understood anembodiment will be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a hair brush in accordancewith a first embodiment of the invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the hair brush shown in FIG.1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the hair brush shown in FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the hair brush shown in FIG. 1;

[0022]FIG. 5 is an diagrammatic underneath plan view of two hair brushesof a first set of hair brushes in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a hair brush in accordance with asecond embodiment of the invention;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a hair brush in accordance with athird embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] In the description which follows like parts are marked throughoutthe specification and drawing with these same reference numerals,respectively. The drawing figures may not be to scale in all views inthe interest of clarity.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 there is shown a hairbrush 11comprising a substantially rigid member having, a body part 15 adaptedto be grasped by a person's hand, an elongated support portion 16integral with the body part 15. A first set of spaced apart teeth 21extends substantially parallel from the support portion 16. At least oneline of substantially parallel teeth 22 are aligned in a predeterminednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration at the edge of the first set ofspaced apart teeth 21. The pattern or configuration of the outer line ofsubstantially parallel teeth 22 corresponds with a requirednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a required part in the hairsuch that in use the at least one line of aligned teeth are placed wherethe part is required and combed or brushed away from that line to leavethe required part.

[0027] The support portion 16 of the hairbrush 11 has a curved platestructure substantially following the curvature of the head.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown a set of two hair brushes31,32 with each comprising a body part 15 adapted to be grasped by aperson's hand, a support portion 16 connected or integral with the bodypart 15. Each includes a first set of spaced apart teeth 21 extendingsubstantially parallel from the support portion 16. The first brush 31has an outer edge 22 of its first set of spaced apart teeth 21 alignedin a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration. The patternor configuration corresponds with at least part of a requirednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair. Thesecond brush 32 also has a respective outer edge 22 of its respectivefirst set of spaced apart teeth 21 and is aligned in a predeterminednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration. That pattern or configurationcorresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern orconfiguration of a part in the hair. The pattern or configuration of therequired non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair ofbeing zigzag or sawtooth Each of the set of hair brushes 31, 32 areshaped to have their respective pattern or configuration correspondingto each other such that in use the respective at least one line ofaligned teeth 22 of each of the set or combs or brushes can be placedadjacently where the part is required and at least one of the set of twohair brushes 31, 32 combed or brushed in direction away from the otherto form the required part.

[0029] Each of the set of two hair combs has a second set of spacedapart teeth 25 extending substantially parallel from the support portion16. The spacing of the second set of spaced apart teeth 25 is greaterthan the spacing of the first set of spaced apart teeth 21.

[0030] In another form of the invention (not shown) each of the set oftwo hair combs 31, 32 has their respective outer edge 22 of the firstset of spaced apart teeth 21 spaced relative to each other. When the setof two hair combs or brushes are placed adjacently or in partiallyoverlapping formation, the teeth are interleaved so as to jointly form asingle line of spaced apart teeth that corresponds with the pattern orconfiguration of the required non-rectilinear pattern or configurationof part in the hair.

[0031] In use of preparing a non-linear part of the hair of a person theuser provides a set of at least two hair combs or brushes with eachcomprising a body part adapted to be grasped by a person's hand, asupport portion connected or integral with the body part, and a firstset of spaced apart teeth extending substantially parallel from thesupport portion; and an outer edge of its first set of spaced apartteeth aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern orconfiguration. The user places a first of the hair combs or brushes withits non-rectilinear outer edge of spaced apart teeth at the requiredposition wherein that pattern or configuration corresponds with at leastpart of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part inthe hair. Then the user places a second of the hair combs or brushessubstantially adjacent the first with its non-rectilinear outer edge ofspaced apart teeth at the required position wherein that pattern orconfiguration corresponds with at least part of a requirednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair. Tooperate the user moves at least one of the set of two hair combs orbrushes combed or brushed in opposite directions away from the other toform the required part.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5 the pattern or configuration of the requirednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair is a zigzagor sawtooth design.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6 the pattern or configuration of the requirednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair is a weaveor a rectangular sine wave design.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 7 the pattern or configuration of the requirednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair is awave-like or sinusoidal design.

[0035] The set of two hair combs or brushes can include a dye applicator(not shown) in one or both of the hair combs or brushes. In use ahair-dyeing medium is expelled from openings in the body part or in oneor more of the teeth so as to provide a streaking or dyeing effect whilealso providing the required part.

[0036] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has beendescribed in detail herein those skilled in the art will appreciate thatvarious substitutions and modifications may be made in the hair comb orbrush without departing from the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims. For example in other variations the support portion of at leastone of the set of two hair combs or brushes has a spine with the bodypart adapted to be grasped by a person's hand extending from an upperside of the spine and the first set of spaced apart teeth extendingsubstantially parallel from a lower side of the spine. The supportportion of at least one of the set of two hair combs or brushes canextend at right angles to the body part to provide a T shape with ahandle able to be held by the user. The invention therefore is notlimited to the described embodiments but to the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair comb or brush comprising: a substantiallyrigid member having a body part adapted to be grasped by a person'shand, an elongated spine portion integral with said body part, and afirst set of spaced apart teeth extending substantially parallel fromsaid spine portion; and at least one line of substantially parallelteeth are aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern orconfiguration at the edge of the first set of spaced apart teeth whereinthat pattern or configuration corresponds with a requirednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a required part in the hairsuch that in use the at least one line of aligned teeth are placed wherethe part is required and combed or brushed away from that line to leavethe required part.
 2. The hair comb or brush according to claim 1including: a second set of teeth formed integral with and extending fromsaid body part or spine portion having a spatial density less than saidfirst set of teeth.
 3. The hair comb or brush according to claim 1wherein said body part is adapted to be grasped by a person's handextends normal to the spine portion.
 4. A set of hair combs or brusheswith each comprising: a substantially rigid member having a body partadapted to be grasped by a person's hand, a spine portion integral withsaid body part, and a first set of spaced apart teeth extendingsubstantially parallel from said spine portion; and at least one line ofsaid substantially parallel teeth are aligned in a predeterminednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration at the edge of the first set ofspaced apart teeth wherein that pattern or configuration correspondswith at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern orconfiguration of a required part in the hair and wherein each of the setof hair combs or brushes are shaped to have their respective pattern orconfiguration corresponding to each other such that in use therespective at least one line of aligned teeth of each of the set orcombs or brushes can be placed where the part is required and combed orbrushed away from that line to leave the required part.
 5. A set of atleast two hair combs or brushes with each comprising: a body partadapted to be grasped by a person's hand, a support portion connected orintegral with said body part, and a first set of spaced apart teethextending substantially parallel from said support portion; and thefirst comb or brush having an outer edge of its first set of spacedapart teeth aligned in a predetermined non-rectilinear pattern orconfiguration wherein that pattern or configuration corresponds with atleast part of a required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of apart in the hair and the second comb or brush having an outer edge ofits respective first set of spaced apart teeth aligned in apredetermined non-rectilinear pattern or configuration wherein thatpattern or configuration corresponds with at least part of a requirednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair andwherein each of the set of hair combs or brushes are shaped to havetheir respective pattern or configuration corresponding to each othersuch that in use the respective at least one line of aligned teeth ofeach of the set or combs or brushes can be placed adjacently where thepart is required and at least one of said set of two hair combs orbrushes combed or brushed in direction away from the other to form therequired part.
 6. A set of at least two hair combs or brushes accordingto claim 5 including the support portion of at least one of said set oftwo hair combs having a curved plate structure substantially followingthe curvature of the head.
 7. A set of at least two hair combs orbrushes according to claim 5 including the support portion of at leastone of said set of two hair combs or brushes having a spine with thebody part adapted to be grasped by a person's hand extending from anupper side of the spine and said first set of spaced apart teethextending substantially parallel from a lower side of the spine.
 8. Aset of at least two hair combs or brushes according to claim 5 includingthe support portion of at least one of said set of two hair combs orbrushes extending at right angles to the body part to provide a T shapewith a handle able to be held by the user.
 9. A set of at least two haircombs or brushes according to claim 5 including at least one of said setof two hair combs having a second set of spaced apart teeth extendingsubstantially parallel from said support portion with the spacing of thesecond set of spaced apart teeth being greater than the spacing of thefirst set of spaced apart teeth.
 10. A set of at least two hair combs orbrushes according to claim 5 including each of said set of two haircombs having their respective outer edge of the first set of spacedapart teeth spaced relative to each other so that when the set of twohair combs or brushes are placed adjacently or in partially overlappingformation, the teeth are interleaved so as to jointly form the singleline of spaced apart teeth that corresponds with the pattern orconfiguration of the required non-rectilinear pattern or configurationof part in the hair.
 11. A set of at least two hair combs or brushesaccording to claim 5 including the pattern or configuration of therequired non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair ofbeing zigzag or sawtooth.
 12. A set of at least two hair combs orbrushes according to claim 5 including the pattern or configuration ofthe required non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in thehair being wave-like or sinusoidal.
 13. A set of at least two hair combsor brushes according to claim 5 including a dye applicator included inone or both of the hair combs or brushes such that a hair dyeing mediumis expelled from openings in the body part or in one or more of theteeth so as to provide a streaking or dyeing effect while also providingthe required part.
 14. A method of preparing a non-linear part of thehair of a person including the steps of: providing a set of at least twohair combs or brushes with each comprising a body part adapted to begrasped by a person's hand, a support portion connected or integral withsaid body part, and a first set of spaced apart teeth extendingsubstantially parallel from said support portion; and an outer edge ofits first set of spaced apart teeth aligned in a predeterminednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration placing a first of said haircombs or brushes with its non-rectilinear outer edge of spaced apartteeth at the required position wherein that pattern or configurationcorresponds with at least part of a required non-rectilinear pattern orconfiguration of a part in the hair placing a second of said hair combsor brushes substantially adjacent with its non-rectilinear outer edge ofspaced apart teeth at the required position wherein that pattern orconfiguration corresponds with at least part of a requirednon-rectilinear pattern or configuration of a part in the hair andmoving at least one of said set of two hair combs or brushes combed orbrushed in direction away from the other to form the required part. 15.A method of preparing a non linear part of the hair of a personaccording to claim 14 wherein each of said set of two hair combs havetheir respective outer edge of the first set of spaced apart teethspaced relative to each other so that when the set of two hair combs orbrushes are placed adjacently or in partially overlapping formation, theteeth are interleaved so as to jointly form a single line of spacedapart teeth that corresponds with the pattern or configuration of therequired non-rectilinear pattern or configuration of part in the hair.16. A hair comb or brush substantially as hereinbefore described withreference to the drawings.
 17. A set of at least two hair combs orbrushes substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to thedrawings.
 18. A method of preparing a non-linear part of the hair of aperson substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to thedrawings.